Last throw of dice proves a lifesaver

A close call, but Scots’ dream of going to Russia is snatched from jaws of disaster. By Stewart Fisher

CALLUM Paterson’s long throw was almost Scotland’s last throw. Hurling the ball into the box was once regarded as a glorified Sunday league tactic, but last night it proved a salvation of sorts for Scotland against Lithuania at Hampden last night.

Chris Martin produced the kind of flick-on Scotland had been desperate for all night and substitute James McArthur arrived in the nick of time to guide in the 89th-minute header which cancelled out Fiodor Cernych’s opener. As much as Scotland had toiled, late panic spread through the Lithuanian ranks and Grant Hanley so nearly turned one point into three.

There had been much futile debate during the week as to whether this game represented a “must win” for Scotland. But it was certainly a “must not lose”. Somehow, they sit second in the table ahead of facing Slovakia on Tuesday. Let’s hope we have simply got our Georgia-style stumble out the way early this time.

Gordon Strachan said this week that he isn’t a fan of radio phoneins and doesn’t appreciate being ambushed by enquiries from the public. Unfortunately, he is likely to face more questions than ever – despite his team’s late equaliser.

Some banging house tunes from Radio Clyde DJ George Bowie had attempted to get the party started before the game, but this one fell flat and if Scotland are to make it to the World Cup in Russia in 2018, then once again we must do it the hard way. While there was booing from the Tartan Army at half-time and after the Lithuanian goal, by the end they seemed too dazed by it all to react.

Lithuania are noted for the physicality of their approach and, under the charge of the brawny former Hearts frontman Edgaras Jankauskas, they didn’t disappoint. Egidijus Vaitkunas saw yellow after 12 minutes when he directed a shoulder into the face of the onrushing Andy Robertson, and his Zalgiris Vilnius clubmate Mantas Kulkys followed him into the book shortly afterwards. Georgas Freidgeimas was the next name taken for a right jab which wouldn’t have been out of place at Friday night’s Ricky Burns fight. There was a time when Scotland might have been bullied by such an approach, but Strachan decided to fight Lithuania at their own game. The wee man has thrown a few curve balls in his time as a manager, like pitching Koki Mizuno into the heat of Old Firm battle, but the only shock around Hampden last night was when he stuck with a winning team. He became the first Scotland manager in five years to name an unchanged selection when he stuck with the men who started the campaign with a 5-1 victory in Malta.

While the main source of outcry was Martin retaining his role up front, despite the fact Leigh Griffiths has scored 14 goals for Celtic and Steven Fletcher four in seven since the Fulham striker last netted in the league, this Scotland side had a strapping, athletic look to them and not just in the muscular 6ft 2in form of Oliver Burke. Long passes to Martin were a focus of the approach and Callum Paterson’s header from an early set-piece was a statement of intent.

Mark McGhee had said pre-match that Burke’s first home start for his country was as eagerly awaited as any since Kenny Dalglish’s. It lasted less than an hour, but two barnstorming runs showed glimpses of what the £13.5 million Red Bull Leipzig player could become. However, it was all generally too slow from Scotland to break down a stubborn Lithuania.

Darren Fletcher, on the occasion of his 75th cap, departed at halftime, with McArthur coming on, while Griffiths would also enter the fray to a hero’s welcome. By then, our qualifying hopes were in the balance, though, courtesy of a neat onetwo between Cernych and former Hearts and Dundee player Arvydas Novikovas, and a sweet near post finish. It really would have been curtains if the same player had done likewise from a similar position with 15 minutes to go.

Andy Robertson, the best Scotland player on the night, proved our likeliest source of inspiration, setting up chances for Robert Snodgrass and James Forrest. But it was a long throw, with pretty much our last throw, which means our dreams of reaching Russia aren’t done just yet.